Automatic gearbox leaking

[mankymusic]

Hi,

I've got a 1.9DG with an autobox with is leaking, the strange thing is that its leaking out of the pipe that the AFT is supposed to go in.
As the engine warms up you can actually see the AFT rising up the dipstick, it drops again once the engine is off....any ideas?
I doubt it is anything I can fix myself so any gearbox specialist in north wales I can get towed to?

cheers

[81AirCooled]

Is it leaking from the top of the filler tube? I know sod all about the things though it may have too much ATF in it in that case. When cold my ATF shows higher on the dipstick than when warm, which I hope is normal as it gets sucked from the pan into the gearbox and drops back down once cooled off.

I spotted a drop at the bottom of my dipstick filler pipe which didn't show up again after cleaning so I think it's coming from the gasket above - see pic. I intend to change my ATF and fit new gaskets on the pan myself as described in the Haynes manual, it sounds pretty straightforward. Someone please warn me if I shouldn't attempt this as I don't want to be stuck unable to put the thing back together.

If you've got no leaks yourself I'd suggest getting a gasket set replacement from Brickwerks, cleaning the pick up and refilling. Beyond that I think it's a specialist job.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?p ... t&Itemid=6

[VWCamperfan]

Hi,

I've got a 1.9DG with an autobox with is leaking, the strange thing is that its leaking out of the pipe that the AFT is supposed to go in.
As the engine warms up you can actually see the AFT rising up the dipstick, it drops again once the engine is off....any ideas?
I doubt it is anything I can fix myself so any gearbox specialist in north wales I can get towed to?

cheers

I can remember a post from ages back mentioning a blocked breather hole on the top of the box. Could be the same problem.

[big red bus]

would suggest blocked breather/filter.
Ther is a pan filter in the bottom of the gearbox. remove pan and change filter and refil with new atf. see if that improves things. If not then box out and to specialist for ££££££'s of repairs. or source good secondhand and fit that. Getting a little thin on the ground now but do come up but look to pay between £250-£300 for a good'en.

[mankymusic]

thanks for the replies,

yes, the atf rises up the filler pipe and out over the top, knock the engine off and it sinks back down, the atf level was OK, in fact i just got back from a 3000 mile trip to switzerland and next time i used the van this happened, lucky to have made it home!
I've been to a "local garage" and he muttered something about blocked breather before washing his hands of the problem.
will have a look for a breather hole and will order the seals / strainer from brickwerks as suggested, whats this pan filter, is that the "strainer"? if not where can I get one of them from?

thanks again, I'm really upset about the possible demise of my beloved van but you give me hope that it can be fixed.

[Aidan]

does you gearbox have an oil cooler at the front ?

if so it could have failed and you are getting coolant crossover

[mankymusic]

does you gearbox have an oil cooler at the front ?
if so it could have failed and you are getting coolant crossover

thanks Aidan
I've had a look and there seems to be a block with some rubber pipes going to it around the front, I assume this is an oil cooler.
Having said that the ATF coming out of the box is nice looking (ie, clear red like it should be), I would have expected it to be emulsified if there was coolant getting in.
if it has gone is it just a case of replaceing the o-rings to re seal it?

I've ordered the seals and strainer, when they arrive I will open the pan and see what I can see.

does anybody know where this "breather" is located so I can check if its blocked?
I can't find a reference to a breather in the Vanagon workshop manual.

[R0B]

i hope it hasn't.it can be devastating.have a read of this http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=305

if it has gone is it just a case of replaceing the o-rings to re seal it?

[81AirCooled]

Just before we both start draining our ATF, as I understand it drains from the fill up tube base where it enters the pick-up pan? Is there no seal on there that needs replacing at all as I can't see anything in the Haynes? I can just about reach that nut without lifting the van but I need to put the van on axle stands at the rear to remove the pan. Will this affect the amount of ATF I'm changing?

[R0B]

no there is no seal there.whats left in the box will drain off when you remove the pan.so make sure you have a suitable container below it..

[81AirCooled]

Thanks mate, hopefully the weekend will be dry over here so I can get that job out of the way

[Cakewalk]

One thing I wished I had done when I changed the ATF was measure how much came out when I drained it !

Its a good reference point of how much fresh ATF to put back in (assumes correct amount of ATF in there in first place tho!!!)
Especially as checking the level is quite invovled and tricky to get right (IMO anyway)

If I remember right Haynes says top up with 2½ litres of fresh first then top up gradually to 3 litres with engine running.

Mine took a lot more than 3 litres to get correct level though which is why i wished I'd measured what came out if only as a reference !!

[81AirCooled]

That's a fantastic tip. I was thinking of doing this as I'm sure my ATF is too low so at least I can get some kind of reference for refilling.

[mankymusic]

i hope it hasn't.it can be devastating.have a read of this http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=305

OH MY GOD!

[trikepete]

had the same with my auto box oil pissing out the filler tube all over the engine and the road
it was the breather blocked to check it get under van feel on top of gearbox at the front you will feel a round cap
check that it moves
if it dont twist it as muck gets up there and blocks it you can even pull it off if you have too to clean it
not saying that is the prob but it cured mine